Prevalence and correlates of being overweight or obese in college

Brian Lawrence Odlaug; Katherine Lust; Cathrine L Wimmelmann; Samuel R Chamberlain; Erik L Mortensen; Katherine Derbyshire; Gary Christenson; Jon E Grant

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2015.01.029

Prevalence and correlates of being overweight or obese in college

Brian Lawrence Odlaug, Katherine Lust, Cathrine L Wimmelmann, Samuel R Chamberlain, Erik L Mortensen, Katherine Derbyshire, Gary Christenson, Jon E Grant

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recent statistics indicate that over one-third of college students are currently overweight or obese, however, the impact of weight in this population from academic and psychiatric perspectives is not fully understood. This study sought to examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in college students and its association with stress, mental health disorders and academic achievement. A total of 1765 students completed the College Student Computer User Survey (CSCUS) online at a large Midwestern United States University. Responders were classified by weight as normal, overweight or obese based on body mass index. Data were stratified by sex, with cross-tabulation and t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and logistic regression for analysis. A total of 492 (27.9%) students were overweight (20.2%; range 25.01-29.98) or obese (7.7%; range 30.04-71.26). Overweight and obesity were associated with significantly lower overall academic achievement, more depressive symptoms, and using diet pills for weight loss. Obese males had significantly higher rates of lifetime trichotillomania while overweight and obese females reported higher rates of panic disorder. Higher educational institutions should be aware of the significant burden associated with overweight and obesity in students, and of the differing demographic and clinical associations between overweight or obesity in men and women.

Original language	English
Journal	Psychiatry Research
Volume	227
Issue number	1
Pages (from-to)	58-64
Number of pages	7
ISSN	0165-1781
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2015.01.029
Publication status	Published - 30 May 2015

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10.1016/j.psychres.2015.01.029

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title = "Prevalence and correlates of being overweight or obese in college",

abstract = "Recent statistics indicate that over one-third of college students are currently overweight or obese, however, the impact of weight in this population from academic and psychiatric perspectives is not fully understood. This study sought to examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in college students and its association with stress, mental health disorders and academic achievement. A total of 1765 students completed the College Student Computer User Survey (CSCUS) online at a large Midwestern United States University. Responders were classified by weight as normal, overweight or obese based on body mass index. Data were stratified by sex, with cross-tabulation and t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and logistic regression for analysis. A total of 492 (27.9%) students were overweight (20.2%; range 25.01-29.98) or obese (7.7%; range 30.04-71.26). Overweight and obesity were associated with significantly lower overall academic achievement, more depressive symptoms, and using diet pills for weight loss. Obese males had significantly higher rates of lifetime trichotillomania while overweight and obese females reported higher rates of panic disorder. Higher educational institutions should be aware of the significant burden associated with overweight and obesity in students, and of the differing demographic and clinical associations between overweight or obesity in men and women.",

author = "Odlaug, {Brian Lawrence} and Katherine Lust and Wimmelmann, {Cathrine L} and Chamberlain, {Samuel R} and Mortensen, {Erik L} and Katherine Derbyshire and Gary Christenson and Grant, {Jon E}",

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AU - Odlaug, Brian Lawrence

AU - Lust, Katherine

AU - Wimmelmann, Cathrine L

AU - Chamberlain, Samuel R

AU - Mortensen, Erik L

AU - Derbyshire, Katherine

AU - Christenson, Gary

AU - Grant, Jon E

PY - 2015/5/30

Y1 - 2015/5/30

N2 - Recent statistics indicate that over one-third of college students are currently overweight or obese, however, the impact of weight in this population from academic and psychiatric perspectives is not fully understood. This study sought to examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in college students and its association with stress, mental health disorders and academic achievement. A total of 1765 students completed the College Student Computer User Survey (CSCUS) online at a large Midwestern United States University. Responders were classified by weight as normal, overweight or obese based on body mass index. Data were stratified by sex, with cross-tabulation and t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and logistic regression for analysis. A total of 492 (27.9%) students were overweight (20.2%; range 25.01-29.98) or obese (7.7%; range 30.04-71.26). Overweight and obesity were associated with significantly lower overall academic achievement, more depressive symptoms, and using diet pills for weight loss. Obese males had significantly higher rates of lifetime trichotillomania while overweight and obese females reported higher rates of panic disorder. Higher educational institutions should be aware of the significant burden associated with overweight and obesity in students, and of the differing demographic and clinical associations between overweight or obesity in men and women.

AB - Recent statistics indicate that over one-third of college students are currently overweight or obese, however, the impact of weight in this population from academic and psychiatric perspectives is not fully understood. This study sought to examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in college students and its association with stress, mental health disorders and academic achievement. A total of 1765 students completed the College Student Computer User Survey (CSCUS) online at a large Midwestern United States University. Responders were classified by weight as normal, overweight or obese based on body mass index. Data were stratified by sex, with cross-tabulation and t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and logistic regression for analysis. A total of 492 (27.9%) students were overweight (20.2%; range 25.01-29.98) or obese (7.7%; range 30.04-71.26). Overweight and obesity were associated with significantly lower overall academic achievement, more depressive symptoms, and using diet pills for weight loss. Obese males had significantly higher rates of lifetime trichotillomania while overweight and obese females reported higher rates of panic disorder. Higher educational institutions should be aware of the significant burden associated with overweight and obesity in students, and of the differing demographic and clinical associations between overweight or obesity in men and women.

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DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.01.029

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VL - 227

SP - 58

EP - 64

JO - Psychiatry Research

JF - Psychiatry Research

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ER -

Prevalence and correlates of being overweight or obese in college

Abstract

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